Mike Lindell, the former CEO of MyPillow, is campaigning for the Republican nomination in the Minnesota gubernatorial primary scheduled for Tuesday. During a candidate forum at Minnesota Farmfest, Lindell highlighted his personal relationship and endorsement from Donald Trump as a primary qualification for office. Lindell is seeking to replace Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who is not running for a third term.
The campaign follows Lindell's decision last week to step down as CEO of MyPillow. While Lindell holds an endorsement from Trump, the Minnesota Republican Party officially endorsed Kendall Qualls, an Army veteran, at its convention in May. Other candidates in the race include Lisa Demuth, the Republican speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, who currently leads the GOP field in fundraising.
Lindell’s candidacy has faced internal party opposition. The Minnesota Republican Party chair recently questioned Lindell’s state residency, and a former party leader published a column citing past allegations of physical abuse against a former girlfriend. Lindell has denied the abuse allegations, stated his residency is valid, and characterized these challenges as a "coordinated attack" resulting from his endorsement by Trump.
For Republican primary voters, the choice represents a divide between the party’s grassroots endorsement process and Trump’s personal influence. While Lindell cites his ability to work directly with Trump, strategist Preya Samsundar noted the party's concern regarding the ability of a Trump-aligned candidate to win a statewide election in Minnesota, a state Trump has not won in three presidential bids. Voters will see the immediate impact of this choice in the fall campaign, which will likely focus on federal-state relations, immigration, and trade policies.
The contest also highlights the influence of federal policy on state politics. During the forum, Sen. Klobuchar criticized the Republican field for supporting Trump’s policies, specifically citing recent Medicaid cuts and immigration enforcement actions that led to two deaths. Following the primary results this week, the winning candidate will begin a general election campaign leading to the November vote, where the state's approach to these federal issues and its executive leadership for the next four years will be decided.